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What partnerships has Samsung formed with Israeli companies?
Executive summary
Samsung has formed multiple, documented ties to Israeli companies and the local ecosystem: a 2023 partnership with Avnet ASIC Israel on ASIC design and manufacturing services (Samsung press release) and long-running R&D, accelerator and investment activities through Samsung Research Israel and Samsung Next/Samsung investment arms (Samsung Research site; Times of Israel; Samsung Next statements) [1][2][3][4][5]. Reporting also records acquisitions, subsidiaries and alleged commercial deals — such as links to Corephotonics, Red Bend/Harman and claims about a 2022 MENA arrangement with IronSource — but some of those claims are presented in opinion or advocacy outlets and are not confirmed by Samsung press materials in the provided set [6][7][8][9].
1. Formal engineering and foundry partnerships: Avnet ASIC Israel tie-up
Samsung publicly announced a strategic partnership with Avnet ASIC Israel (AAI) in June 2023 to combine Samsung’s silicon process and manufacturing with AAI’s ASIC design and turnkey services, aiming to help system and fabless companies bring SoCs to market [1]. The Samsung Semiconductor press release frames this as a commercial design-foundry collaboration focused on accelerating product delivery and verification for customers [1].
2. Local R&D and scouting: Samsung Research Israel (SRIL) as an integration channel
Samsung Research Israel (SRIL), established in 1997, is explicitly charged with developing advanced technologies and scanning Israeli startups and academia for solutions that could be integrated into Samsung products; SRIL runs an open-innovation team and participates in investments via Samsung group investment vehicles [2]. Multiple accounts link SRIL’s scouting to later pilots, licensing or investment decisions [2][3].
3. Accelerator and startup programs: Samsung Mobile Advance and other local programs
Samsung has run accelerator-style programs in Israel — notably the Samsung Mobile Advance (SMA) program — offering grants, technical support and the prospect of pilots that could lead to technological partnerships, licensing, or investment by Samsung’s funds [3][10]. Times of Israel coverage describes the program as a route for Israeli startups to integrate with Samsung’s mobile-product roadmap and notes that successful POCs can lead to multiple commercial options [3].
4. Corporate presence, acquisitions and subsidiaries in Israel
Reporting shows Samsung operates several Israeli entities: Samsung Electronics Israel, Samsung Semiconductor Israel, SRIL R&D centers, and through regional subsidiaries, companies such as camera‑technology firm Corephotonics; Samsung also controls businesses like Red Bend (via Harman) and Samsung Bioepis has an Israeli affiliate, according to Korea Herald reporting that catalogues Samsung’s broad corporate footprint in Israel [6][7]. These items indicate both direct R&D work and corporate ownership rather than one-off partnerships [6][7].
5. Investment activity and Samsung Next’s local role (and retreat)
Samsung Next — the corporate innovation/investment arm — invested in roughly 70 Israeli companies and ran collaborations and community-building in Tel Aviv before announcing a consolidation and the closure of its physical Tel Aviv office in 2024, with U.S.-based teams taking over relationships; Samsung Next framed the move as organizational restructuring while stating continued commitment to Israeli investments [4][5]. This shows Samsung’s model of supporting startups via investment as well as corporate partnerships [4][5].
6. Allegations, surveillance claims, and contested reporting on IronSource/Aura
Opinion and advocacy reporting allege a 2022 Samsung MENA deal with Israeli firm IronSource to pre-install an app (Aura) on Galaxy A/M series phones in MENA — reporting that frames this as a potential surveillance risk and refers to SMEX and other critics [8][9]. The materials in the provided set include strong allegations and advocacy framing but do not include a Samsung denial or an independent, verified forensic analysis within these sources; therefore, available sources do not mention a corporate confirmation from Samsung in the provided reporting [8][9].
7. Recent semiconductor manufacturing ties and 2025 chip work
Industry reporting in 2025 notes Samsung Foundry activity connected to Israeli semiconductor firms — for example, contracts to manufacture automotive chips for Valens Semiconductor — and Samsung’s participation in Israeli events like ChipEx, underscoring ongoing commercial and event-level engagement between Samsung’s foundry business and Israeli chip companies [11][12]. These items indicate that Samsung’s Israel links span design, foundry relationships and ecosystem engagement [11][12].
8. How to read competing narratives and remaining gaps
The sources document clear commercial partnerships, R&D centers, accelerators and investment history [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Where the record shifts to accusations of espionage or secret surveillance (IronSource/Aura), the material largely comes from advocacy outlets and news pieces that make serious claims but lack corroboration in the Samsung press releases included here; thus, available sources do not mention a Samsung confirmation or a forensic third‑party validation within this set [8][9]. Readers should treat corporate press statements, mainstream business reporting and investigative/advocacy claims as separate evidence streams and seek independent verification for high‑risk allegations.
If you want, I can list the partnerships and programs above as a concise bulleted timeline or extract direct quotes and links from each cited item.